Application Process

Application deadlines: Oct. 15 for early admission and Jan. 8 for regular admission

Traditional M.A.T. Program Application Process

Early Admission: Students interested in early admission/acceptance must have all application materials submitted between Aug. 1 and Oct. 15 to be considered.

Regular Admission: Students interested in the regular admission cycle may submit application materials between Oct. 16 and Jan. 8. Applications will be processed as they are received, and decisions for regular admissions are made in mid to late January.

Step 1

Complete and submit an ATCAS application (Athletic Training Centralized Application System) online.

ATCAS includes a general application (see items 1-5 below) and a program-specific application (items 6-8 below).

  1. Personal information: Basic demographics.
  2. Academic history: Institutions attended and transcripts uploaded.
  3. Letters of recommendation: At least 2 required, up to 4.
  4. Observation hours: 150 hours preferred, a minimum of 75 hours required under the supervision of an athletic trainer. It may be possible that all observation hours are not completed at the time of application.
  5. Personal statement: For your personal statement, describe your professional goals including why you have chosen Athletic Training as a career.
  6. Resume
  7. Course catalog descriptions: include course descriptions of the program’s prerequisite courses; see prerequisite courses in Admission Criteria.
  8. Program-specific questions: applicants must complete two program-specific questions.

Find further information at ATCAS Application Fees and Fee Waivers.

Step 2

Complete an M.A.T. Program interview, virtual or in-person, and pre-interview paperwork. Once a student has completed an application, they will be notified of potential interview dates.

Step 3

Select students who have completed an interview will be invited to complete a University of Arkansas Graduate School application. Final acceptance into the M.AT. program will occur after students have applied to and successfully been admitted into the Graduate School.

Students accepted into the U of A Graduate School and M.AT. Program are accepted on the condition that they satisfactorily complete the following:

  1. All remaining prerequisite courses not completed at the time of application with a C letter grade or higher
  2. Submit an official transcript with degree conferral information to the U of A Graduate School

Accelerated M.A.T. Program Application Process

Step 1

Complete and submit an internal University of Arkansas Accelerated M.AT. application. The link will be provided by an academic advisor.

The application includes the following questions:

  1. Academic history: Institutions attended and transcripts uploaded.
  2. Letters of recommendation: At least 2 required, up to 4.
  3. Observation hours: 150 hours preferred; a minimum of 75 hours required under the supervision of an athletic trainer by time of matriculation. It may be possible that all observation hours are not completed at the time of application. However, all observation hours must be completed prior to beginning Athletic Training (ATTR) graduate coursework.
  4. Personal statement and program questions: For your personal statement, describe your professional goals including why you have chosen Athletic Training as a career. Two additional program essays (described in the program application packet) must be completed.
    5. Resume

Step 2

Complete an M.A.T. Program interview, virtual or in-person, and pre-interview paperwork. Once a student has completed an application, they will be notified of potential interview dates.

Step 3

Select students who have completed an interview will be invited to join the Accelerated M.A.T. Program.

Program progression for accelerated M.A.T. students. Accel. M.A.T. students will take ATTR graduate classes starting in the summer of the 3rd year of enrollment (i.e., after they have completed at least 96 credit hours toward the Exercise Science bachelor's degree. Students who successfully complete the EXSCBS degree requirements after two semesters of enrollment in the accel.M.A.T. Program (summer of 3rd year and fall of 4th year) will earn a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science in December of the 4th year. Students will apply for the University of Arkansas Graduate School during the fall of the 4th year. For more information on program sequencing and progression, please review the Graduate Catalog or the Policy and Procedure Manual for more details.

Accel. M.A.T. students will apply to the U of A Graduate School during the fall of the 4th year. After which, students who have been accepted into the Graduate School and who have met the following requirements will be fully admitted into the M.A.T. Program:

  1. Completed all EXSCBS requirements for graduation
  2. Earned an average GPA of at least 3.0 in the 24 hours of ATTR graduate classes
  3. Not earned more than 2 C grades or lower in ATTR classes
  4. Met all requirements of the graduate coursework including the Retention and Progression Policies identified in graduate course syllabi and
  5. Satisfactorily met all standards identified in the U of A M.A.T. Program Professionalism and Professional Responsibility Criteria.

Post-Admission Procedures for both Traditional and Accelerated M.A.T. Programs

Students must do the following prior to enrolling in M.A.T. program courses. All expenses incurred by the completion of the following are the responsibility of the student.

  1. Sign and submit a formal acceptance letter that outlines program and paperwork requirements and attests to reading the program policy and procedures manual
  2. Provide evidence of immunizations — mumps, measles, rubella, tetanus and diphtheria — to the university's Pat Walker Health Center
  3. Provide a hepatitis B vaccination record or waiver form (Pat Walker Health Center offers the hepatitis B vaccination for a fee)
  4. Pass a drug screen at an approved testing site. The cost of drug screening ($54) will be incurred by the applicant. Additional drug tests may be required of any student at random times throughout their time in the program, consistent with the MAT Substance Abuse and Drug Screening Policy (see the Substance Abuse and Drug Screening Policy in the Policy and Procedure Manual for more details)
  5. Successfully complete a background check. Results of the background check may influence the student’s ability to complete required clinical education rotations within the program (see the Background Check Policy in the Policy and Procedure Manual for more details)
  6. Complete the program’s technical standards document (see the Technical Standards Policy in the Policy and Procedure Manual for more details)
  7. Students will be required to review the M.A.T. program’s Policy and Procedures Manual and submit an acknowledgement form
  8. Additional trainings/paperwork completed within the program include: HIPAA/FERPA training, Bloodborne Pathogen and OSHA Safety Training, AHA BLS for the Healthcare Provider certification, and Arkansas Mandatory Reporter Training